​You name it, Kathryn Tappen has probably covered it. The award-winning broadcaster is celebrated as one of the most versatile hosts and sideline reporters in sports media, with experience spanning Super Bowls, the Olympics, Stanley Cup Finals, major college football showdowns, and a host of other events. From July 10–12, Tappen will be competing in the American Century Championship on NBC and Peacock. It marks her tenth appearance in this star-studded celebrity golf tournament. PFN recently sat down with Tappen to discuss her career, offer guidance to aspiring broadcasters, weigh in on the Dianna Russini–Mike Vrabel situation, talk about the American Century Championship, and more.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in broadcasting? You’ve achieved a lot, collected awards, and covered incredible events. What would you tell a person beginning their broadcasting journey?
Kathryn Tappen: I believe the landscape has changed significantly in the 23 years since I graduated from Rutgers in 2003. Yet the core foundation of sports journalism remains the same: if you’re truly passionate about something, pursue it wholeheartedly. If your motivations are misguided, you’re likely to stumble repeatedly. In today’s world, with social media and the constant lure of fame, it’s crucial not to use broadcast journalism as a shortcut to influencer status or celebrity appeal. Do it because you value authentic reporting, rigorous journalism, and the ability to conduct a tough, fact-based interview.
There are many essential elements we learn in journalism school that sustain a long, durable career, and the values they teach are vital. That’s the best guidance I can offer: stay true to your values, hold onto your integrity, and honor the ethical standards you learned. Those principles lay the groundwork for longevity in the industry—not the number of followers you accumulate online. The followers will come if you consistently demonstrate integrity and high-quality reporting, but the lasting payoff is rooted in who you are and what you stand for.
The entertainment aspect of this business makes it especially challenging. Temptations, opportunities, good days and bad days, missteps, and setbacks all come with the territory. You must weather the highs and lows while maintaining your integrity. When you’re at your lowest—whether because of on-air mistakes, or when social media erupts after a misstep—you have to hold fast to your core values. That inner resolve is what enables you to endure and grow.
In today’s environment, the lines between journalism and social media blur even more, as platforms dominate much of the conversation and visibility. It’s easy to chase short-term attention, but a durable career is built on consistent ethical behavior, rigorous reporting, and the discipline to prioritize accuracy over sensationalism. If you stay grounded in your principles, you’ll navigate the inevitable pressures of the job and sustain a meaningful presence in sports media.
If you’d like, I can tailor this guidance to a specific stage of your career—whether you’re just starting, transitioning from another field, or aiming to elevate your interviewing techniques and on-air presence.